EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso has “defined remedies” if the developer of the Meta data center fails to meet its contractual obligations for things like private investment and job creation, the City said.

On the flip side, the council also heard that if they terminate the agreement without cause, the City would face “significant legal and financial risk,” including potential liability of more than $1 billion.

The El Paso City Council received a detailed presentation on the Wurldwide, or Meta, data center project on Monday, April 13.

The council heard reports on the status of the development, contractual obligations and the City’s legal position.

The briefing confirms that all agreements in place are enforceable and include clear performance requirements related to private investment, job creation, and construction timelines, the City said.

These agreements include the land purchase and development terms, as well as tax abatement and economic development agreements approved by City Council.

Council was advised that the City has “defined remedies” should the developer fail to meet its obligations, including potential termination for cause following notice and an opportunity to to fix whatever the issue is.

The presentation noted that, over the next 25 years, the project is projected to generate more than $400 million in tax revenues for the City, while other local taxing entities are expected to receive more than $1 billion in combined property tax revenues during the same period.

The project remains in active development, with construction milestones underway and staff continuing to closely monitor compliance.

“The concerns around water use, energy demand, and environmental impact are valid, and they are being taken seriously. This agreement was approved by the previous City Council, and while the vast majority of Council was not part of that decision, we are responsible for ensuring it is enforced and that El Paso families are protected,” Mayor Renard U. Johnson said. “This is why we are working on a clear data center policy that puts our community first, protects our resources, and sets expectations for any company that wants to invest here.”

The City has now concluded the first round of community meetings tied to the development of a proposed “Data Center Policy Framework.” Those meetings were held to gather public input on issues such as infrastructure, utilities, and long-term community impacts as staff work under Council direction to develop recommendations for future data center policy in El Paso.

Residents still have an opportunity to participate through the City’s online survey, which remains available on the City’s Data Center website through 5 p.m. Friday, April 17. You can access that survey by clicking here.

Next steps include:

Compiling and analyzing feedback from the community meetings and online survey.

Continuing coordination with utility providers and local, state, and regional partners.

Developing draft recommendations informed by community input, technical analysis, and legal review.

Holding another round of community meetings so residents can review draft recommendations and provide final input.

Finalizing recommendations and presenting them to City Council for consideration.

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